Can opening and spout forming device



Aug.'13, 1935. c, AULBACH 2,011,509

' CAN OPENING AND SPOUT FORMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1934 Patented Aug. 13, [935 PATENT OFFICE cranium-AND SPOUT FORMING VICE Charles J. Aulbach, Syracuse, N. 'Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York,

N. Y., a corporation of 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a can opening and spout forming device which may be used to fornra pouring opening in the can end and to shape the can body wall adjacent the opening in order to provide a pouring spout through which the contents of the can'may be dispensed.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opening and spout forming device which is constructed so that an opening in the can end may be first formed and then the body wall of the can may be shaped to provide a pouring spout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opening and spout forming device having a pivoted spout forming member which, when in one position, serves as a handle to whichpressure may be applied in forming the opening in the can end and which may be moved about its pivot after the opening has been formed to shape the can body wall to form a pouring spout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opening and spout forming device wherein means are provided for forming an opening in the can end and wherein cam means, operable after the opening has been formed, are provided for shaping the bodywall of the can to form a pouring spout.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of the can opening and spout forming device in position on the end of a can;

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device after the opening has been formed in the can end;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device after the spout has been formed in the can body;

Fig. 4 is a developed fragmentary plan view of the end of the base member on which the cutter is formed;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the base member showing the cutter, and

Fig. 6 is afragmentary plan view of the can; end after the opening and spout have been formed.

The invention relates generally to a can opening and spout forming device which includes a base member having a depending cutter formed integral therewith. The base member is adapted to be positioned on the top of the can and is provided with means for engaging the double seam to prevent endwise movement thereof relative to the can end. The cutter has a piercing point and diverging cutting edges which merge into parallel cutting edges extending at right an- Application December 19,

(Cl. 221-.23)v

New York 1934, Serial No. 758,300

gles thereto. The base member carries a spout forming device which includes a lever pivotally' mounted between the parallel cutting edges. When the lever extends away from the base member in substantially the plane thereof, the end thereof abuts against the base member so that pressurecan be applied to the lever to aid in forcing the cutter downwardly for cutting the opening in the 'can end. The lever is provided with a cam face which remains in an. inoperative position until the lever is pulled upwardly after the cutter has been forced down and the opening has been formed in the can end. When the lever is pulled up, the cam face engages the body wall of the can adjacent the opening and forces the same outwardly to form apouring spout.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the can comprises a can body it to which the can end it is by a double seam l2. This is the usual type of hermetically sealed can in which products are marketed. The can may be used for liquid products, and the invention has to do particularly with a can opening and spout forming device for opening a'sealed can and preparing the same for dispensing liquid contents. Lubricating oils are being marketed in hermetically sealed cans, and the can opening and spout forming device of the present invention may be used quickly and efliciently at a filling station or garage for opening and preparing the can for the dispensing of the lubricant contained therein to a motor. The device of the present invention is further advantageous in that the body wall of the can is deformed in the preparation of the pouring spout so that the can cannot be fraudulently used again to market an inferior product. I

The can opening device includes a base or supporting member i3 which is formed of suitable metal. The central portion M of the base member i3 is offset slightly downwardly with respect to the plane thereof, in order to leave side portions IS. The offset portion I4 is provided with a depending lug l6 which is cut and bent downwardly. The free edge of the lug is curved to conform to the curvature of the inner edge of the double seam l2, so that when the device is placed over the end of a can, the lug l6 will rest against the inner edge of the double seam to prevent endwise movement of the base member with respect to the can end. The base member I3 is provided with two downwardly bent lugs I! at the end thereof. The lugs ll are adapted to bear' against the inner edge of the double seam of a larger can, in which case, the lug l6 serves no function. For purposes of illustration, the can opening and spout forming device is shown in connection with a relatively small can, such as a one quart size.

The base member I3 is provided with a cutter device which is. integral therewith. There is shown, in Fig. 4, a developed plan view of the end of the base member on which the cutter is formed. The member I3 is slit along the lines a-b, bc, ab, b'--c'. A centrally disposed longitudinal slot I8 is formed in the end of the member and circular apertures I9, I90, are formed on opposite sides of the slot. There are also provided openings 20, 20a on opposite sides of the slot and these openings communicate with the slits bc, bc'. The triangular portions 2 I 2|a of the member, wherein the apertures l9, l8a

arelocated, are bent along lines bd, b'-d, re-

spectively, to lie parallel to one another with the apertures l9, |9a in alinement. The pointed end of the member I3 is bent downwardly along the line e--f, so that the slit edges of the portions 2|, 2|a abut against the portion between the slits bc, bc'. A pin 25, having a lever 26 mounted thereon within the slot H3 in the cutter,

is supported in the openings l9, l9a, between the parallel cutting edges 2|, 2| a. The side portions 22, 22a. adjacent the slits bc, b-c', are bent downwardly to a position wherein they lie opposite the openings I9, l9a, respectively, and thus prevent the pin 25 from becoming disengaged. The lever 26 is provided with an abutment portion2l which bears against the under side of the base member I3 behind the end of the slot I8 when the. handle extends away from the base in substantially the plane thereof, as shown in-Figures 1 and 2. The lever 26 is provided with a cam edge 28 which is/inoperative when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

In order to form an opening in a can end and to form a pouring spout, the base member I3 is placed'over the end of the can with the depending lug I6 resting against the inner edge of the double seam |2. The piercing point 23 of the cutter will enter the can end I at the point y, in Fig. 6,- just within the double seam. The cutter is provided with cutting edges 24, 24a, which diverge from the piercing point 23 and merge into the parallel cutting edges 2|, 2|a. The lever 26 mounted on the pin 25 within the slot 18 in the cutter is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2,

with the abutment portion 2! bearing against the under side of the base member l3. The operator, then placing one hand on the portion M of the base memberand placing the other hand on the lever 26, may press down and cause the piercing point 23 to enter the can end II at the point 1/ (Fig. 6). Further descent of the cutter will cause the cutting edges 24, 24a to cut the can end along lines y-g and 11-h (Fig. 6). Further downward movement of the cutter will cause the parallel cutting edges 2|, 2|a to cut the can end along lines blc and gl, respectively, and at the same time, curl back the metal II a in order to form the opening in the can end. In this position of the cutter, as shown in Fig. 2, the'cam face 28 on the lever 26 is inoperative and is dropped below the edge of the double seam I2 adjacent the formed opening. The edge portions 22, 22a rest on the double seam, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus serve as a stop to prevent further movement of the device. The operator, in order to form the pouring spout still presses upon the base member with one hand and raises the lever 26 with the other to the position shown in Fig. 3. The cam face 28 will force the body wall of the can outwardly to form a pouring spout 29, after the formation of which the device may be removed and the can tilted to dispense the contents thereof. It is to be noted that the ends of the portions 22, 22a extend at an angle so that the outer edges extend farther than the inner edges so that the formation of the spout 29 will not preYZZ nt the portions 22, 22a to continue to serve as a top.

From the foregoing description it wi be apparent that a highly eflicient can opening and spout forming device is herewith provided wherein a pivoted spout forming device serves as a handle for operating the can opening device and remains inoperative until the opening is formed, at which time it may be swung about its pivot to form a pouring spout adjacent the formed opening.

It is to be clearly understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is-

1. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member having a cutter depending therefrcm for forming an opening in the can end, and a spout forming member pivot,- ally mounted on said cutter, said spout forming member serving as a handle for said cutter in forming the opening in the can end and adapted to be turned about its pivot after the formation of said opening to shape the body wall of the can to form a pouring spout.

2. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member having means for engaging the double seamon the can end, a cutter depending from said base member and formed integral therewith, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member and adapted to be positioned so as to form an extension of said base member and to serve as a handle for applying pressure to cause the cutter to penetrate the can end, and cam means on said lever operable body wall of the can into a pouring spout after the opening in the can end has been formed.

3. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member, a cutter depending from said base member and including parallel cutting members, means on said base member for positioning the same on the can end, a spout forming device including a lever having a cam end, and means for pivotally mounting said lever between said parallel cutting members, said lever adapted to serve as a handle to which pressure may be applied for forming an opening in the can end when in one position and adapted to be swung about its pivot after the opening in the can end has been formed to bring said cam end into operationto form a pouring spout'in the body wall of the can.

4. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member, a cutter integral with said base member and depending therefrom and including a piercing point and parallel cutting memberameans on said base member for positioning the same on the can end to prevent endwise movement relative thereto, a lever pivotally mounted between said parallel cutting stantially the plane thereof whereby to afiord a handle for forcing said cutter into the can end, and a cam surface on said lever adjacent its pivot point for forming a, pouring spout in the body wall of the can by turning the lever about its pivot out of the plane of said base member after the opening has been formed in the can end.

5. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member, a cutter including parallel cutting members depending from said base member and adapted to form an opening in the can end, means on said base member for engaging the double seam to prevent endwise movement thereof relative to the can end, said parallel cutting members having registering openings therethrough, a pin mounted in said openings, a lever pivotally mounted on said pin, said lever adapted to be positioned so as to form an extension of said base member whereby to serve as a handle for applying pressure to cause said cutter to penetrate the can end, and cam means on said lever adjacent the pivot pin operable by swinging the lever after the can opening has been. formed to shape the body wall of the can into a pouring spout.

6. A can opening and spout forming device comprising a base member having an integral cutter depending therefrom, said cutter including a slotted front portion having a piercing point and parallel cutting members, having registering openings therethrough, a pin mounted in said openings, depending portions on said base member for retaining said pin in position, means on said base member for positioning the same on the can end, a lever pivotally mounted on said pin and extending through said slot, said lever having an abutting surface adapted to bear against the under side of said base member when positioned to serve as a handle for applying pressure to cause the cutter to penetrate the can end, and cam means on said lever adjacent the pivot pin operable upon the turning of said lever after the can opening has been formed to shape the body wall of the can to form a pouring spout.

CHARLES J. AULBACH. 

